Red Hook Fire Fundraiser with Randaberg Yngre Mannskor from Norway

This event is “pay what you can” with a suggested minimum donation of $20 at the door. You must RSVP here so that we do not overbook Strong Rope! This is not a pre-planned gala, so it is cash bar, and there is no budget for food. If you want to donate food, email us at chiclet(at)portsidenewyork.org.

PortSide NewYork is pleased to present Randaberg Yngre Mannskor (Young Men's Choir from Randaberg, Norway). The choir offered to make this a fundraiser and asked what would be meaningful, and we answered: a fundraiser for the artists and businesses affected by the fire at 481 Van Brunt Street!

Norwegians were a big part of the Red Hook community in the past. See here. They were also a major presence as crew on workboats in this harbor, including our Mary Whalen, and as company owners. October 2025, marks the 200th anniversary of organized Norwegian immigration to the USA on the sloop Restauration. This event is part of a PortSide series and other events in NYC commemorating that!

Randaberg Yngre Mannskor approached PortSide to sing as part of that 200th anniversary since a replica of the sloop Restauration ship will be docked alongside our ship Mary A. Whalen from October 15-20 having retraced the voyage of the original sloop (pending approval by the NYC EDC).

A theme of the visit of PortSide's October Norwegian themed events is “we are one family, vi er en familie” and that cultural exchange moves both ways: the culture of the immigrants’ new home goes back to the homeland. One example is that this choir often sings African American spirituals and gospel as here. These have become Norwegian church standards. They do also sing in Norwegian as in this video with the Restauration here.

During this event, the choir is open to having people join them singing and playing instruments near the end of the event. The choir will be joined by JonAlf Dyrland Weaver, the grandson of Alf Dyrland, a Norwegian immigrant who was captain of our ship MARY WHALEN from 1962 to 1978. His family became our family. Alf’s son in law John Weaver worked at PortSide and served on our board. The memorial service for Alf’s daughter Karen was held on the Mary Whalen this year.

We have another Norwegian event on Friday, 10/17, 6-9pm with a book launch by Ole Broderson of Norway, followed by a concert by his NYC friend Cassandra Jenkings. More info here.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Strong Rope Brewery Red Hook, 185 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, United States